What is idling?
Idling is when a driver leaves their vehicle running unnecessarily while parked.
Why are we talking about idling?
- Idling usually provides little benefit to drivers, especially when it's not winter.
- Turning it off is a free and easy step you can take to save money and protect our air quality.
- Everyday thousands of vehicles idle needlessly, sometimes for hours. An idling car can release as much pollution as a moving car.
- In Flagstaff, we idle at trains, in parking lots, and in drive-thrus. You may not be able to avoid keeping your engine running when you're stopped at a traffic signal or stuck in slow-moving traffic. But other times it's easy to just turn it off.
- The Sustainability Section wants to help you save money and make Flagstaff a healthier place to live.
- We received a grant from the Urban Sustainability Director's Network to fund marketing materials for this anti-idling campaign.
Do you want me to stop idling everywhere?
- No! There are plenty of places where idling is hard to avoid, or necessary for safety, like waiting in traffic, or at stoplights, or if you need to defrost your windows.
- This campaign is asking you to pick one place where it'd be easy and safe for you to turn off your engine.
Is shutting off the engine bad for my car?
- In the past, frequent restarts could be bad for a car's engine and battery. With modern engines, this isn't the case! The added wear from turning off your car amounts to no more than $10 a year. This is much less costly than the cost of wasted fuel.
- Idling actually increases overall engine wear by causing the car to operate for longer than necessary.
Doesn't it use more gas to start the car than leave it running?
No! Idling for just 10 seconds wastes more fuel than restarting your engine, so don't hesitate to turn it off when stopped for a few minutes in a parking lot, for example.
Does it really save money?
Yes! The cost of wasted fuel can range anywhere from $70-650 a year depending on fuel prices and how much you idle.
Where does excessive idling occur in Flagstaff?
We surveyed Flagstaff residents in summer 2018 and the three most common places are:
- Train stops
- Parking lots
- Drive-through lines
What are the benefits of reducing idling?
- Turning it off saves money. Restarting your car does not burn more fuel than leaving it idling. Americans waste $13 million every day on unnecessary idling.
- Turning it off makes our air healthier by cutting down on hazardous pollution in Flagstaff. Idling tailpipes spew out the same pollutants as moving cars. These pollutants have been linked to serious human illnesses including asthma, heart disease, chronic bronchitis, and cancer.
- Turning it off can keep your engine healthier. Idling can actually damage engine components. According to the California Energy Commission, "Fuel is only partially combusted when idling because an engine does not operate at its peak temperature. This leads to build up of fuel residues on cylinder walls that can damage engine components and increase fuel consumption."
Is this mandatory?
No! The Turn it Off campaign is focusing on voluntary action. Reducing idling in one location is a choice residents can make to save money.
How is the campaign funded?
We received a grant from the Urban Sustainability Director's Network to communicate the benefits of reduced idling to residents.
Do you need to warm up your car?
Who else says reducing idling is good for my car?
See the following links: